Grants help bring 3k back into use

OVER €155million has been paid to Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant applicants, bringing 2,856 homes back to residential use, it was revealed yesterday.

- BY KEITH FALKINER

Official figures showed almost 10,000 applications were approved up until the end of last month.

The number of grants being paid out continues to rise significantly each quarter, as refurbishments are completed.

More than 700 grants were paid in Q2 of this-year on completion of works, according to the new figures.

This represents an increase on the same period last year when 226 grants were settled.